These are short quotes from various press sources over the last ten years.
"There is a tangible intensity in the performance style of both Shafran and Klegseth. Each man is able to say volumes with their own particular instrument."
- Music Connection, Los Angeles
"(The RedHot Blues) is here to service your every blues need, from slow-burning ballads to door-slamming rockers. And they have the track record to prove it. In fact, nine out of 10 music clubs that book blues acts recommend The RedHot Blues."
- City Weekly, Salt Lake City
"They have quickly become one of the hottest bands of the West Coast."
- Fremont St. Reggae & Blues, voted number one blues club in Las Vegas (1994)
"...rollicking, good-time, rocking blues has made this band a Southern California favorite. All the playing on this collection is inspired. Performing a blend of blues and rock similar to bands like the Allman Brothers or Johnny and Edgar Winter, they play with an intensity rarely seen."
- Southland Blues Magazine, Los Angeles
"Led by vocalist/guitarist Dave Shafran and guitarist/vocalist Junior Lee Klegseth, Southern California quartet, The RedHot Blues (with the help of several accomplices) earned a reputation playing small Blues joints...It's easy to admire their passion for Blues music.
- John Fotunato, New York CD Blues
"Shafran has drawn comparisons to (Greg) Allman and Joe Cocker with his highly emotional delivery. Klegseth provides searing guitar and looks to be a long time challenger as one of the top blues guitarists."
- Blues Connection
"Klegseth is the lead guitarist - he wails, rocks, scratches, bends, and pulls notes all over the place...a fine bar band because they are raucous and occasionally raunchy..."
- Cadence Magazine, New York
"Contemporary blues that appeals to the blue collar as well as the college crowd, this band is starting to get the attention they deserve. Junior's (Klegseth) guitar work has received raves from both audiences and reviewers for his emotionally charged solos and histrionics. The combination of Junior's guitar with Dave Shafran's well-modulated, smoky vocals is electric."
- The Good Road Network, Seattle
"…an intense live act…they've been knocking 'em dead on Los Angeles stages since '92."
- The Event, Salt Lake City
This is a tight band that has obviously spent some time on the road, playing a lot of gigs and it shows here. This is one groove from beginning to end and the musicians seem very in sync with one another.
- Southland Blues Magazine, Los Angeles
"At the Hots (blues club), local residents will get their second chance to see the tenderness and fury of Klegseth's guitar..."
- Antelope Valley Press, Lancaster
"You're indeed good players and have a nice blues feel….Good stuff; you should be proud."
- Bruce Iglauer, Alligator Records
Music Connection Magazine
The RedHot Blues
House of Blues
West Hollywood
Contact: Artist Hot Line: 818-773-3731
The Players:
Dave Shafran, vocals, guitar
Junior Lee Klegseth, guitar,vocals
Louie Allen, bass
Reid de Fever, drums.
Material:
The RedHot Blues are very aptly named. This contemporary blues band has
joined the blues explosion that's been taking place throughout Southern
California. They blazed out of the gate with the rocker "Walkin' Shoes,"
and when they say "If you ask me to choose between you and my guitar/you
know you're gonna lose," you'd better know that they mean it. They did
some nice covers, including Robben Ford's "Start It Up!" but where they
really came into their own was on their originals--these were definite
crowd favorites. The title track of their first CD, "Since You Moved Out,"
really managed to capture that empty feeling of a breakup's aftermath.
The slow burn of "One Bottle" is as good a remedy for heartbreak as the
whiskey in the song, and when Klegseth scaled the frets from high to low,
your emotions couldn't help but go with him.
Musicianship:
The core of the band is comprised of Shafran on vocals and Klegseth on
guitar, and these partners are well suited to each other. Shafran's vocals
were packed with so much emotion, it sounded like his cords were going to
shatter at any moment. Klegseth's guitar work was not only technically
outstanding, but he really connected emotionally with the audience through
his guitar. The rhythm section of Allen on bass and de Fever on drums gave
the two front men an interesting and solid backdrop.
Performance:
This band has been paying their dues by playing clubs every chance they get,
and the payback is a quality live show. There is a tangible intensity in
the performance style of both Shafran and Klegseth. Each man is able to say
volumes with their own particular instrument. The excitement of the audience
tended to peak during Klegseth's solos, judging by the yelps and howls from
the medium-size crowd. The boys were able to keep the energy level high
through the set.
Summary:
The RedHot Blues is the kind of band that is able to bring blues to the
masses, not just to hard core blues fanatics. Their music rocks hard enough,
and incorporates enough other musical elements to give it a potentially
widespread commercial appeal. With blues clubs sprouting up all around town,
there should be plenty of opportunities to catch this band live, which is
the best way to hear the blues.
- Amy DeZellar
The RedHot Blues
Relentless Blues
BlueSong
The RedHot Blues has produced another very good album with the release of their new disc Relentless Blues. With this album, the group has emerged as a leaner stripped down quartet, but this is still some rocking blues.
On this album, Dave Shafran really shows his voice off, not that he has not done so before, but here it really comes to the fore. Junior Lee Klegseth on guitar rips some great solos and puts the finishing touches on the riffs that Shafran starts with his voice.
This is a tight band that has obviously spent some time on the road, playing a lot of gigs and it shows here. This is one groove from beginning to end and the musicians seem very in sync with one another.
Another great thing here is the songwriting. 10 of the 13 numbers are originals and these songs include some great selections like "57 Miles" and "Records Of The Blues". This music is definitely owned by this band.
This album may be a little too rock oriented for some blues fans, but this music definitely has the blues in it and that's enough for this fan. Rock on guys, we love it.
You are now midway through the week. Your workday was so nondescript you almost cried. Your new roommate has turned out to be a drag, and your boy/girlfriend hasn't phoned in 10 days. Time to go to a club, hear some music, down some beers, and root for the here and now. And you don't care about what snotty university students are listening to, nor do you care about Top-40, your maxed-out credit card or the stock market. Just deliver some raging blues rock, thank you, and all will be fine.
The RedHot Blues are here to service your every blues need, from slow-burning ballads to door-slamming rockers. And they have the track record to prove it. In fact, nine out of 10 music clubs that book blues acts recommend The RedHot Blues. Put another way, these L.A. boys have a mere 10 percent rate of rejection. The band is a vision of guitarist Junior Lee Klegseth, a man who went for what he loved most in life after surviving severe burns over one-third of his body. So you see, the man know more than one meaning of the words "red hot." He's lived through it, and he plays it. Step to it, tonight at the Zephyr Club.
The RedHot Blues
The RedHot Blues is a premiere contemporary blues band out of Los Angeles, specializing in an aggressive style of delivering the best in blues. The band has developed a strong following by exhilarating, high energy live shows. The band just returned from a Southwest tour to rave reviews - just like those you'll give. The band is anchored by vocalist Dave Shafran and founder/guitarist Junior Lee Klegseth. Shafran has drawn comparisons to Greg Allman and Joe Cocker with his highly emotional delivery. Klegseth provides searing guitar and looks to be a long time challenger as one of the top blues guitarists.
Southland Blues Magazine
The RedHot Blues
Since You Moved Out
BlueSong
The RedHot Blues are exactly that. Their debut album, Since You Moved Out, shows the rollicking, good-time, rocking blues that has made this band a Southern California favorite.
All the playing on this collection is inspired, from the guitar of Junior Lee Klegseth to the harmonica and saxophones of Steve Moore. Leading the way are the vocals of Dave Shafran,whose voice is perfectly suited for this type of blues. All of this is laid on a solid base set up by keyboard player Walt Thompson, the drummer Sandy Morrison, and bass player Erik Shank.
The band included all sorts of tunes which often slightly bend the boundaries of the blues, but are firmly rooted in the sound and rhythm of that tradition. The title track is a particular favorite of this reviewer.
If you had to be a local band just starting out, this is the type of band you would want to be--one that works hard for it's money and delivers when required.
The RedHot Blues
On first viewing, The RedHot Blues will remind most people of five engineers getting ready for some sort of computer conference. The illusion is dispelled the moment this fiery quintet begins to play. Performing a blend of blues and rock similar to bands like the Allman Brothers or Johnny and Edgar Winter, they play with an intensity rarely seen and with an artistry that comes from love.
The basis for this excellence comes right from the core of the band. Guitar player Junior Lee Klegseth became very serious about his playing since an accident about 10 years ago nearly took his life. Since then, music has been the first priority for him.
Dave Shafran, the lead vocalist, is also very intense about his music. About two years ago, the band was advertising in Music Connection magazine and had almost decided on a singer, when Shafran saw the ad. He called and got an audition which changed the band's mind.
To play harmonica, Shafran called an old friend, Steve Moore, who also doubles on saxophone. Soon after, Jim Mitchell, who had been the bass player in an earlier incarnation returned to the band. With the addition of drummer Bill Spoke, the lineup was set.
With the unique duo of Klegseth and Shafran leading the way, The RedHot Blues have started to forge an identity for themselves in the morass that is L.A.'s club scene. "The problem is that we want to play 20 to 25 dates a month." said Klegseth. "This is hard to do because of the politics and physical locations of the clubs."
While they have had varying success, this band is starting to build a loyal following. Last year, they decided to cut an album, "Since You Moved Out," and release it on their own label, Bluesong Records. To play even more, Shafran, Klegseth and Moore have now formed a unplugged version of the band.
The one thing these guys want everyone to know is that they love this music and will continue to play no matter what. "If good fortune comes our way, great, but we'll be playing either way." Shafran said.
Dave Shafran - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Junior Lee Klegseth - Guitar, Vocals
Fab Rodig - Bass, Vocals
Dave Sprock - Drums
In late 1991, just prior to the impending blues explosion, Junior Lee Klegseth, a fifteen year veteran of the blues, decided to form a new blues band that would reflect his vision of the blues: a talented, energetic ensemble capable of skirting the boundaries of the blues while still paying homage to its great history. Klegseth had been through a burn accident some years earlier and it had brought home to him just how much he loved the music he played. First and foremost he knew he needed a phenomenal vocalist to compliment his fiery guitar playing. After selecting a vocalist Junior received a call from Dave Shafran who insisted on being heard, an insistence that resulted in him being chosen as vocalist and a successful ten-year relationship to date.
That band became The RedHot Blues and became first a staple in the Southern California blues scene and then expanded to touring the western states and Japan. Touring added a great amount of seasoning to their performances and they quickly gained a reputation for their dynamic live performances. Those performances resulted in an amazing statistic: since 1992 they have been asked back to over 90% of all venues played.
Following their first two releases on BlueSong Records, "Since You Moved Out" and "Well Travelled", they entered the studio in early 1998 and recorded "Relentless Blues", a record drawing its energy from juke joints, festivals, and time on the road. This time around Junior and Dave dedicated themselves to putting more of a raw energy into "Relentless Blues" without losing sound fidelity. To help accomplish the right atmosphere the band brought in veteran musicians and tour mates, Fab Rodig and Dave Sprock, and created a loose, relaxed vibe. Combined with their trademark strong songwriting, an ongoing characteristic of the band, "Relentless Blues" marked a new chapter for the band.
They have performed with the Grammy-nominated Buckwheat Zydeco, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Lowell Fulsom, blues great Guitar Shorty, legendary guitarists Les Dudek and Steve Morse, as well as playing hundreds of shows on the Western blues circuit to great response. The band has gained increased exposure through multiple festival appearances, including Omaha Blues Festival, San Diego Street Scene, Laughlin Blues & Brews, Santa Monica Blues Fest and several appearances, including a headlining appearance, at the Lee Canyon Blues Festival in Las Vegas. A recent review of the band's performance at The House of Blues summed it up best: "The RedHot Blues are aptly named...There is a tangible intensity in the performance style of both Shafran and Klegseth. Each man is able to say volumes with their own particular instrument."
These days live albums seem to sound like little more than studio recordings with applause. Big 48-track semi-trucks roll up show after show and record hundreds, maybe thousands of hours of music, which is then sorted through and processed again in the studio; sometimes even overdubs are added. There is none of that here. On the cuts included on The RedHot Blues - Live, you will find the real deal, pretty much what you could expect from The RedHot Blues on any night in any bar, hiccups, blemishes, and flubs mixed right in with pure magic. We've never had the luxury of those 48-track semi-trucks, but I hope even if we had that we would have recorded in the same way, straight to two track, the closest you get to looking in the mirror.
I can honestly say The RedHot Blues, in our many incarnations, never just showed up and punched the clock—we came to play. My proudest achievement as the founder and leader of the band has been the diversity we've achieved, becoming, in the classic sense, an Americana band (we never did fit any convenient traditional definition of "blues"). Can a show travel musically from Jimi Hendrix to Merle Haggard, from Albert King to Willie Nelson and make sense? Hell yes. B.B. King once said that blues is not the notes you play but where those notes come from; if they are coming from the heart you are playing the blues. We play the blues.
Those who know me know I don't like the dry atmosphere of recording studios, especially for improvisational music like jazz and blues. Partially, it's because studios feel sterile to me, clean and proper and forgiving—you just do another take if you screw up. But it's also because you, the audience, are a necessary ingredient in our kind of music. It can be one of you or a thousand, but our music is shaped, in part, by you. What happens on any given night in a club is a one-off, something that can never be recreated. All shows share similarities, but all shows are inherently unique. We should know. Over eleven years after our first show, we still sit and recall this show or that show, distinguished from the others because the complicated chemistry necessary for magic came together on those nights. As much as it can be, some of that magic is presented on The RedHot Blues - Live.
The RedHot Blues : Live Track Listing